Japanese symbol for “boss”
上司
じょうし
Romaji: joushi
(one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups
In Japanese, boss is 上司, read じょうし (joushi).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n (one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “boss”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 組長 | くみちょう kumichou | boss (esp. yakuza); foreman |
| 親分 | おやぶん oyabun | boss; leader; kingpin |
| ボス | ボス bosu | boss; leader; head |
| 親方 | おやかた oyakata | master; boss; chief |
| 大統領 | だいとうりょう daitouryou | big man; boss; buddy |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 以上 | いじょう ijou | not less than ...; ... and over; ... and above |
| 売り上げ | うりあげ uriage | amount sold; sales; proceeds |
| 上昇 | じょうしょう joushou | rising; ascending; climbing |
| 向上 | こうじょう koujou | elevation; rise; improvement |
| 地上 | ちじょう chijou | above ground; on the ground; earth's surface |
| 司法 | しほう shihou | administration of justice; judicature |
| 司会 | しかい shikai | leading a meeting; presiding over a meeting; officiating at a ceremony |
| 寿司 | すし sushi | sushi; range of dishes made with vinegared rice combined with fish, vegetables, egg, etc. |
See also: Chinese symbol for “boss”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.
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